About This Event
Jonah Smith is a critically acclaimed American singer-songwriter whose work has been recorded by Bonnie Raitt. His new album, Satisfied, marks both a new chapter and a return to the spirit of his early work, honed in the bars of Greenwich Village where he began performing under his own name in the early 2000s. Recorded with the LA soul band Family Company, the album reflects Smiths affinity for songs that feel timeless, sung in a voice Anthony DeCurtis calls smoother than a spoonful of Tupelo Honey a reference well suited to this horn-laden record. The seed for Satisfied was planted in January 2018, when Family Company staged a tribute to Bill Withers in Hollywood and invited Smith to perform. Backstage, excitement rippled through the green room: Withers himself was in the house. The band opened the night honoring their hero; it ended with Withers onstage as a roomful of singers serenaded him. The collaboration continued over the next several years through sold-out shows and video tributes celebrating Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, and Sam Cooke. They also began developing original material. The title track was released as a single in the summer of 2024 and quickly gained traction on TikTok and streaming platforms, becoming their most successful song to date. That momentum culminated in early 2025, when Smith and Family Company gathered in Los Angeles to record the bulk of the album live to tape in a single day. With Smith and Family Company at the core, the record features a distinguished group of contributors. Guitarists Eric Krasno, Adam Levy, Al Street, Jon Sosin, and Andy Stack add depth and texture throughout. Horn arrangements by Smith, Mike Cordone, and Paulie Cerra evoke the Memphis soul that guided the albums sound. Cerra also contributes harmonies to standout tracks Learned From The Best and Strivers, while Bob Reynolds (of Snarky Puppy) delivers commanding saxophone solos on Give and New Lows, Old Highs. Smiths musical journey began in Syracuse, New York, and has taken him to stages across three continents. In 2014, he reached a national audience as a semifinalist on Season 9 of Americas Got Talent, performing live at Radio City Music Hall and receiving standing ovations from judges Howard Stern and Howie Mandel for his original song Skyscraper Blues. Following the show, Smith recorded Easy Prey (2016) for a Texas label, collaborating with David Hidalgo of Los Lobos and Ruthie Foster, who duets with Smith on Heavy Hangs the Crown, nominated for Best Blues Song at the Independent Music Awards. Soon after that tour cycle, Smith reunited with longtime collaborator Andy Stack to record the acoustic album Stay Close in a converted schoolhouse in Beacon, New York. Released in 2017, the album earned multiple Independent Music Award nominations, including Album of the Year, and won Best Story Song for Ocala. Smiths music has been featured on television programs including Good Morning America. His voice can be heard in Japanese animated series and national advertising campaigns. He has opened for Los Lobos, Little Feat, and Taj Mahal, and performed at Bonnaroo, SXSW, and Golden Gate Park. His song Big Umbrella became a staple on SiriusXM Coffeehouse.
